Wednesday, January 30, 2019

The First 100 Hours

Today I was calculating how many hours I had in my internship out of the 400 that is needed to graduate. I realized that I am 25% done with my internship, I have exactly 100 hours. ROTOM has one of the kindest staffs that I have ever seen in a office setting. They care so much for each and every jaja we take care of (jaja means grandmother or grandfather and I'm probably spelling it wrong). They care for each other just as passionately. Most importantly they care for their relationship with God. We have devotions at least three of the days that I'm there (I'm there for sure four days a week) and there is not a single day that you cannot feel his presence where ever I am for that day.

For those curious what I do:
-Some days I'm in the office sorting pictures for donors, updating lists, typing reports from the field or creating new lists.
-Some days I go to Katuba Carepoint- it is a program for grandchildren and it helps with their education. I help the children write letters to their sponsors, do arts and crafts and have admired the children doing a traditional African dance. They wanted me to join them, but my hips do not move like that.
-Some days I go and visit the jajas that are in the program. Most of them do not speak English, but joy is universal. We always pray before we leave if they let us. It's always an blessed day when I get to go.
-Yesterday I went to the field and was able to do home assessments on new profiles. Basically, I wrote how many rooms, dirt or cement floors, condition of the roof, if they had a kitchen or a pit latrine. The rest of the questions needed some more knowledge of the language, maybe by the end I can be more help.

I've made it this far and now three hundred hours doesn't seem so bad after realizing how quick the first one hundred went. Classes are good, I enjoy the social work seminar. It's a chance for me to hear about all the other internships and what they are learning. It's amazing how quickly these girls became friends that I know have my back if I have a rough day in the field. I miss my Dordt social work friends, but I am equally blessed here.

In other news, this weekend I am heading back to my families house because on Saturday there is a catering event. This means on Saturday I will learn to butcher a chicken. I do not think I will actually do the butchering, but my brother wants me to learn and who knows it could be a good life skill? I'm hoping to learn how to make a lot of other Ugandan food (CHAPITI!!!) but am unsure what we are making exactly.   Whatever it is, I'm just happy I get some time with my family and that they are so willing to not just call me family, but treat me like family. This helps make Iowa and family not seem so far away. 

Friday, January 25, 2019

List of Things I've Learned:

1. How to do laundry by hand. So far I haven't had any stains that my Tide stain remover pen hasn't been able to get out, but knock on wood. (Seriously though I'm in love with my tide pen).
2. How to play cards with my brothers. These past two weeks have been dominated by playing cards with my brothers when I get home, their favorite game is called pick three. It's kinda similar to Uno, but there are a few more rules.
3. I  know at least three ways to greet people and how to respond (if they use those three greetings). It's not a whole lot, but it makes people smile when I  try.
4. I  learned how to drink tea. My host family does not make the tea with milk like I    previously explained, it's black tea. I  drink it maybe four times a day, I  think I'm going to miss that part of living at home. However, I'm seriously ready for American coffee...it's been 25 days.
5. I learned that it's okay to make an idiot out of yourself dancing with Ugandans. My brothers put on music and I  tried, but I'm not a dancer at all. They enjoyed me trying I  think. It was then my turn to teach them, so my brothers learned the "Cotton Eye Joe" last night and it was so fun to not be the one who can't dance (seriously though my brothers have moves.)
6. I've learned how to cross the street without getting hit by a boda.
7. I've learned to appreciate long walks from Mama's house early in the morning. The Ugandan sunrise is totally worth it.
8. I've learned a ton about African culture and clans. Apparently, my brother is from the royal clan.
9. I've learned to respond to Hannah, Anna, Anne and Nakato. Apparently Hannah is difficult. I've also learned to respond to Hannah Banana. I  taught my mom that one on accident, I apologize to any other Hannah's who will live with my family in the future. However, I  enjoy it as my mom uses it as a term of endearment.
8. I learned how to make mashed potatoes, greens, and ham the African way. Last night my brother wanted to try Dutch food. So we made "stamppot", so it's kinda African Dutch food.

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Oh Brother....so many more brothers.

I  have 10 new brothers (or more or less but I  lose count all the time).  You read that right. My brothers are not all related- we have some cousins, uncles and absolutely no relation in that mix. However, they all treat me like their sister. They are not the only people treating me like family, I  also have three sisters and a mom. Again the three sisters aren't biological sisters to each other. It's very confusing, but we all live in the same house and love each other. That's what matters right? I'll draw you a family tree sometime, it's incredibly helpful.

We live twenty minutes from school, which means I'm 20 minutes shy of the recommended daily exercise (I walk there and back). We live on a rabbit farm, which is really cute until you see them without their skins on...meat is very fresh here. I  think this is the first time I've seen the animal I've eaten (not the rabbit yet, just chicken so far). My brother says he'll teach me to butcher a chicken sometime. They teach me all sorts of great life skills like how to say hello, do my laundry and the meaning of money.

That's about all the update I have time for (got to start walking home before it gets dark- a strict seven pm curfew). Pray for the family who takes American students in every semester and loves each and everyone of them as their own- they have been the biggest Ugandan blessing.

Friday, January 11, 2019

Pineapple on Pizza and Other Random Stuff

If you don’t believe that pineapple should be on pizza, Uganda is not the place for you.  Today, I  tried “Ugandan Pizza.”  I  don’t actually think that it is a thing that most people eat, but it is really good and the place delivers. They have one kind of pizza- chicken and pineapple. It also has onions, peppers and tomatoes. It’s on flatbread type crust and it was heaven.

I’m going in backwards order, but I was/am really excited about the pizza here.

On Monday, I met my supervisor over a supper. She seemed really nice and is also a twin herself. I learned a fun bit of Ugandan culture concerning twins. If you are a twin you get a special second name. If you are the oldest, you are Waswaw (male) or Babirye (female). If you are the second born you are Kato (male) or Nakato (female). The parents also get a name that basically means mother or father of twins, but I forget what that is called. I’m not sure if my mom would get two names either since she is a twin and the mother of twins.

My first days at the office where really chill. I’m blessed at ROTOM with amazing people, including a German volunteer who is about my age. She’s showing me the ropes and helping me through the learning curve that she had recently gone through.

Today was our Faith and Action retreat. We went to a place off campus and had a class. Then we had a free afternoon. There was a pool, shops, and a cafe. It was a nice break from the business of Mukono. We got to read letters from students that went before us and it was so fun read their advice and what they valued. Honestly, one of the letters said that I’m only here for 130 something more days. It seems so far away but it’s going to fly by.

Tomorrow, I’m leaving for a two week home stay with a Ugandan family. I’m unbelievably excited to meet them, that being said I more than likely will not have internet so I’m probably going in ghost mode for awhile.

Sunday, January 6, 2019

Loose on the Town

First the very exciting news: I know where my internship is! I will be doing my internship with ROTOM (Reach One, Touch One Ministries). It is a program for assisting the elderly people and their grandchildren. It is connected to a clinic, a day care and apparently an old lady dance party once a month.

In case you want to learn more: http://reachone-touchone.org/ug

This morning I went to church. They have a church on campus that starts at 8:30. We started singing Oceans. It was incredibly beautiful and just what I needed to hear. They really know how to worship here, if you are ever awake at 11 on Saturday I believe they live stream the service. Church was done at around 10:30, just in time for tea. After tea we decided to go up monkey hill again. It was just as beautiful the second time. We got to see some of the locals around the hill this time around.  They laughed as we took our pictures in front of the scenic view. One of my new friends, Kate, is a photographer and she had us each take really fun photos. I'll share it as soon as I get it back.

Today, we got to go explore the town. I am very obviously a Mzungu (a white person) and small children would point, dance and smile.  We quickly made friends with a UCU students who showed us the ropes. We were going to ask random people on the street where to buy items or how to say words in Luganda, but they took our paper and led the way fearlessly. I am so thankful for Freddie and Amon. They helped us learn traffic rules (aka the basic of how to cross a street, hint: find a Ugandan). They taught us where to buy Mango and that is it called Muyembe. In case you were wondering I bought 3 of them for 2,000 Ugandan Shillings. I'm so excited to eat them, I learned from a different friend that you can actually eat the mango skin...but we will see if I chose to do that or to buy a knife.  We then went to the hotel in Mukono and I had a Mountain Dew. It does not taste quite like the American version, but it was refreshing after the heat. The heat is very direct sunlight, so despite the sunscreen I am now sporting my first sunburn of many I am sure.

On the way back from the hotel, my friends and I decide to stop for Rolex. Rolex is egg omelet deep fat fried with Ugandan tortilla chapati. They make it fresh in front of you and give it to you in a plastic of sorts. It was so hot, I held on to the plastic which opened and I accidentally dropped it on the ground. It was very disappointing and despite all the health warns I received before leaving I was really tempted to eat it anyway. Luckily a friend was nice and shared some. 10/10 would recommend.

Friday, January 4, 2019

First Post from Uganda

First day of official wifi (I had enough in the airport to text mom and dad that I had made it)!  
I  arrived on January 2, after 30 some hours without sleep I arrived with 14 other girls to Entebbe. From there, it was a 3 hour trip to my new home, Mukono. An interesting fact that I wasn't aware of was that they drive on the opposite side of the road as we do it the States. This lead to what I  felt was a giant game of chicken. The roads are paved, but have many different pot holes. John, our driver, tried to miss the bumps, which put us in the different lane. I  was completely safe and we weren't anywhere close to having an accident...it just felt super weird. 

My new home away from home is beautiful. It has 7,000 undergrad students which is much larger than I   thought. I haven't gotten lost yet, but it will come sooner than later probably. Palm trees, mountain hills, monkeys and colorful dresses are everywhere. I even have an avocado tree outside my door, still unsure on whether or not I  can eat it from the tree. I  live with a fellow American student, Gracie, and we should have two Uganda students move in sometime.  Our PA, program assistant, explained that housing is treated more like a suggestion here and so they may move in soon but they also may not.  I  live in Sabiti, which has a similar feel to West Hall (Dordt reference) but Sabiti has communal bathrooms and less square footage. We have two bunkbeds (I  sleep on the bottom bunk because the malaria net is really easy to hang then), two wardrobes and two dressers. I’m doubtful any other furniture will fit. I  live right across from the bathroom which is super nice. 

In Uganda, it is quite frequent to have whats called a pit latrine. So basically it’s a hole in the floor with piping. We have two of those and two toilets without the seat. A local explained that it was really gross to sit on what other people pee on. Makes sense, but major cultural shock walking into the bathroom Thursday morning. They also don’t provide toilet paper. Luckily, a new friend had a spare roll I can use until we go into Mukono and buy some. 

They also don’t have hot water, so cold water is now rebranded as “refreshing” because that’s all I have to shower. My PA said she could show us how to heat it, but it sounds like way too much work. I  would have to get an electric kettle and then take a bucket bath one pitcher full at a time.

Thursday we walked up “monkey hill.” It’s a beautiful over look on the town. 




They don't have fences to stop cattle. I    prefer a fence, but he didn't hurt me so we're okay.

It rained quite a bit, which cools it down a lot but also makes the roads sticky. 

Today (Friday) 
I  had orientation start today. One of my favorite facts was that I am the 812 student in the Ugandan Studies Program and I  am the 19th from Dordt college. It's just comforting to know that this program has had so many people come before me. At orientation for breakfast, I  had chipata (I have no idea how to spell it) it’s basically a tortilla. There’s a stand outside my campus that sells it, I’m super excited. We also had Ugandan tea, which is made with milk and is very sweet like a Smokey Row chai almost. I think I’m going to drink it everyday, It’s super yummy. Totally out of order but I’ve had rice and some sort of sauce for every meal since I  got here. I’m happy to report that I  actually enjoy it. I  will be able to supplement my diet with the local fruit & veggies. 

I got an old school Nokia phone, which is super exciting to be able to communicate! It will cost me 7500 Ugandan Shillings to have an hour on the phone to the United States. I  believe that is around $2 but it’s not exact. It’s basically a prepaid plan, I’ve yet to put any minutes on it yet but it will happen eventually. If you get a call from a Ugandan phone, it will only charge me like $2 and it won’t charge you. It’s pretty neat actually. The money is very colorful and I absolutely love it, but I still am unsure how to use it and what is “fair” or not.

I  went to the library today, interestingly enough you cannot take your bag into the library. You have to do a bag check of sorts. I    was told that I  look smart, in Uganda you dress “Ugandan smart”  which is basically you look professional. Literally an answer to prayers, the dress code was making me nervous. 

I'll just leave you with this: